Artistes perform at the 3rd Laxman Garnaik Smruti Antarjatika Nrutya Sangeet Samaroha 2012 in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Feb. 29: Odissi performances took the centre stage on the opening day of the 3rd Laxman Garnaik Smruti Antarjatika Nrutya Sangeet Samaroha 2012 on Tuesday.

Organised by the National Music Association on its premises, the festival has been providing platform to a number of artistes from different parts of the country to showcase their talent.

The Bhubaneswar-based Odissi dancer, Gayatri Chand, regaled the audience with some graceful moves and intricate footwork.

The danseuse started with a traditional Ganesh Vandana. Later, she performed Varsha viraha vidur that depicts the pain and suffering of Radha, who dresses up as a naika (heroine) and waits for Lord Krishna.

The pain of separation was clearly visible in the facial expressions of the naika.

An Odissi jugalbandi by Ramesh Chandra Jena and Madhusmita Mohanty was also appreciated by all.

The artistes staged a performance, Naba Rasa, based on the nine moods of Lord Rama in the Ramayan.

The music was composed by Gopal Chandra Panda and the sequence was choreographed by late Guru Gangadhar Pradhan and Aruna Mohanty.

Besides Odissi, a kathakali performance by Sucheendra Nathan from Kerela was another attraction on the inaugural evening.

The artiste performed Putana Mokshyam based on the mythological tales of Lord Krishna.

“In this dance drama, I tried to depict the confusion in the mind of Putana, who develops a feeling of motherhood when she first sees Krishna. Yet, she decides to try to kill him to attain mokshya (salvation),” said Sucheendra Nathan.

The audience enjoyed the plethora of performances on Tuesday.

“For the past three years I have been attending this cultural programme. We get a chance to watch the performances of artistes from all over the country,” said Raghunath Das, a visitor from Bhubaneswar.

The festival will conclude on March 1, said organising secretary Rati Ranjan Garnaik.